BESAC MiniGrant: Ecotourism

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BESAC Mini-GrantEcotourism Community
Development Project

• Presented by Peter Brumis
• Ecomentum LLC
• peter_at_ecomentum.com

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Overview

• What is Ecotourism?
• Why its Important (CA businesses CCCs)
• Project Objectives Methodology
• Accomplishments
• Special Populations Barriers
• Best Practices
• Resources

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Ecotourism Basics

• Ecotourism
• "Responsible travel to natural areas that
  conserves the environment and improves the
  well-being of local people." (TIES, 1990)

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Ecotourism Principles

• Minimize impact
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and
  respect
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors
  and hosts
• Provide direct financial benefits for
  conservation
• Provide financial benefits and empowerment for
  local People
• Raise sensitivity to host regions' political,
  environmental, and social climate
• (TIES, 1990)
• More info http//ecotourism.org

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What to call it?Confused Yet?

• Ecotourism
• Sustainable Travel/Tourism
• Geotourism
• Nature-based tourism
• Voluntourism
• Natural tourism
• Agritourism
• Alternative Tourism
• Rural Tourism
• Adventure Travel
• Alternative Tourism
• Nature Travel

• Ocean Tourism
• Jungle Tourism
• Conservation Travel
• Ecological Tourism
• Coastal Tourism
• Green Travel
• Health Travel
• Cultural Tourism
• Heritage Travel
• Indigenous Tourism

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Geotourism for Destinations

• Geotourism
• "tourism that sustains or enhances the
  geographical character of a placeits
  environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and
  the well-being of its residents. (National
  Geographic)

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Ecotourism Basics
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Why Ecotourism for BESAC?

• Tourism worth over 5.6 Trillion annually (UNWTO)
• Fastest-growing segment of tourism industry
• up 20 to 34 per year (TIES)
• California destinations in decline
• 1 destination state in US (11.5 of domestic
  travel)
• Powerful economic/employment driver
• Tourism is California's 3rd largest employer
• gt78 Billion in 2000 (stats TIA, CTTC)
• More sustainable, liveable communities
• Little to no curriculum in CCCs

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Sustainable Destinations?

• Disneyland, Anaheim 12,720,000
• Disney's California Adventure 5,311,000
• Universal Studios, Hollywood 4,576,000
• Sea World, San Diego 4,000,000
• Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park 3,479,895
• San Diego Zoo 3,085,038
• Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia 3,050,000
• Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz 3,000,000
• Paramount's Great America, Santa Clara 1,911,000
• Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey 1,678,929
• Six Flags Marine World, Vallejo 1,725,000
• San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park 1,402,906
• Legoland, Carlsbad 1,300,000

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Sustainable Destinations?

• Disneyland, Anaheim 12,720,000
• Disney's California Adventure 5,311,000
• Universal Studios, Hollywood 4,576,000
• Sea World, San Diego 4,000,000
• Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park 3,479,895
• San Diego Zoo 3,085,038
• Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia 3,050,000
• Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz 3,000,000
• Paramount's Great America, Santa Clara 1,911,000
• Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey 1,678,929
• Six Flags Marine World, Vallejo 1,725,000
• San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park 1,402,906
• Legoland, Carlsbad 1,300,000
• RED Focus on Education, Heritage or
  Sustainability

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Mini-Grant Deliverables

• 2 new ecotourism courses
• Introduction to Ecotourism
• Ecotourism Development Management
• Certificate Program (18 Credits)
• Interdisciplinary multiple tracks
• Non-traditional students, community, hospitality,
  entrepreneurs, parks recreation
• Resources
• Instructor Guides
• Best practices
• Best resources case studies

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Curriculum Objectives

• Job training for growing field
• Green Collar Jobs
• Preserve improve tourism destinations
• Authentic destinations endure while theme parks
  decline
• Start the sustainability discussion
• Improve local economies
• Create more conscious travelers consumers

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The Team

• Peter Brumis Project Director
• Ecomentum LLC - Co-founder/CEO
• Tourism experience HI, USA, Central America
• Clayton Snyder Project Manager
• Monterey Institute MBA/Enviro Policy
• International experience Central America
• Jennifer Schneider Instructor Guides
• Monterey Institute MBA
• International experience Africa
• Maria Kovacs Operator Interviews
• Monterey Institute MBA
• Ecotourism experience Central America, Asia

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Methodology

• Primary Research
• Interviews with experts operators
• Determine needs of businesses
• Faculty feedback
• Determine partners
• Secondary Research
• Texts internet sites
• Benchmark existing programs
• Field Research
• TIES Conference Vancouver Whistler (not
  charged)
• Field Research Central America, Monterey Lake
  Tahoe (not charged)
• Write Curriculum Certificate Proposal

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Primary Research Volcan Pacaya, Guatemala
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Mini-Grant Partner Summary

• Tourism Hospitality
• Adventures by the Sea
• Monterey Bay Kayaks
• Monterey Whale Watch Guide/Geotourism Liaison
• Captain Jim Homer (One Beach at a Time)
• Portola Hotel Conference Center
• Pebble Beach Company
• 968 Park Hotel (Tahoe green hotel)
• SMG Tourism Marketing
• Carmel Chamber of Commerce
• Education Partners
• Monterey Peninsula College
• Hospitality, Business, MAST, Sciences, Co-op
  Program
• Lake Tahoe Community College
• Sustainability, Sciences, Wilderness Education

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(No Transcript)
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Accomplishments

• 2 Courses Ecotourism Certificate
• Proposals submitted to MPC, approved for LTCC
• Feedback support from International Ecotourism
  Society
• Future opportunities for collaboration
• Teaching materials contributed by author Carol
  Patterson
• Program Curriculum
• Easily replicated, up-to-date, fosters diversity
• Contributed to local sustainable tourism efforts

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Special Populations
Source https//misweb.cccco.edu/mis/onlinestat/st
uddemo_coll_cube.cfm, Spring 2008 semester)
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Special Populations

• 65 of CA Community College Students non-white
• ESL and multicultural students targeted for
  assistance (BESAC Performance Report)
• Specially designed activities topics
• Recruiting basic info document (English
  Spanish)
• Certificate program gives credit for advanced
  ESL, language courses

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Barriers Addressed

• Low awareness of Ecotourism local efforts
• No curriculum despite prime location
• Need for real world experiences
• Internships
• Study Abroad
• Prohibitive cost of textbooks
• All books fees less than 50 for each course
• Texts, Articles, case studies, Field trips
• Lack of cooperation progress locally

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Best Practices Identified

• Operators Tourists
• Wildlife viewing
• Staff training management
• Marketing
• Certifications
• Provide benefits to local people
• Destinations (Nat. Geo)
• 1. Identify (Resources, businesses, culture)
• 2. Sustain (support, preserve protect)
• 3. Develop (rehabilitate, create needed
  infrastructure)
• 4. Market (coordinated effort)

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Top Resources

• http//Ecotourism.org (TIES International
  Ecotourism Society)
• http//www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainab
  le/ (NG Center for Sustainable Destinations)
• http//Ecotour.org (Conservation International)
• Ecotourism Sustainable Development Who Owns
  Paradise? (2nd Edition) by Martha Honey
• The Business of Ecotourism (3rd Edition) by Carol
  Patterson
• Ecotourism (3rd Edition) by David Fennel
• Case Study
• Saving Paradise The Sakau River Lodge
  (Indonesia) by Carol Patterson Albert Teo

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Contact Information

• Peter Brumis Peter_at_ecomentum.com
• [phone] / www.ecomentum.com

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Thank You BESAC, MPC You!